Urban Farming: Not Just for Radicals

from ManchesterUniversity.com

It’s a trend, but there’s more to it than that. We have increasingly scary information about what goes into mass-produced food. And with over half of the world’s population living in urban areas, gardening satisfies that basic human need to connect with nature, even on a small level. With the internet, television and electronic stimulus, this basic need has become almost a craving. We are of this earth, and connecting with that is grounding.

Growing edibles is a concrete connection to the natural cycle of life, something that can be considered a modern luxury. In the past, our lives depended on being in sync with nature, but today we are isolated from it by news reporters and computer screens. Raw food is most recognizable in Styrofoam trays wrapped in plastic. And many people are unfamiliar with where our food comes from. Meals are available whenever we want them, and we don’t need to know how to hunt, farm or even cook to be able to eat.

Traditional life skills are becoming more attractive as they become less essential to the existence of urban dwellers. Ironically, the time afforded modern society with mass-produced food gives us the luxury of time to grow our own edibles. What was once a staple to human existence has become a hobby that reminds us who we are and where we fit in the world.

Plant something today and get back to your roots.

Urban Farming: Not Just for Radicals was last modified: June 13th, 2014 by admin